Dave Franco

David John Franco was born on June 12, 1985, in Palo Alto, California. He is the youngest of three brothers, including actors James and Tom Franco. His father, Douglas Eugene Franco, managed a Silicon Valley business, and his mother, Betsy Franco, is an author. Franco initially pursued higher education at the University of Southern California with an interest in creative writing, but a theater class during his sophomore year led him toward acting. His early exposure to filmmaking also came from working at a video rental store at age 14, where he was compensated with free movie rentals.

Franco made his television debut in 2006 on “7th Heaven.” He gained early recognition for his role as Cole Aaronson in the ninth season of “Scrubs” (2009–2010). His film career subsequently gained momentum with roles in “21 Jump Street” (2012), followed by appearances in successful films such as “Warm Bodies” (2013) and “Now You See Me” (2013). These roles established his presence in both comedic and action-oriented productions. He continued to build his filmography, co-starring in “Neighbors” (2014) and its sequel “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” (2016), as well as “Now You See Me 2” (2016). In 2017, he received critical attention for his portrayal of Greg Sestero in “The Disaster Artist,” directed by his brother James Franco.

In 2020, Franco expanded his career by making his directorial debut with the horror-thriller film “The Rental,” which he also co-wrote. He broadened his production experience as an executive producer for the miniseries “Pam & Tommy” (2022) and as a producer for films like “Zola” (2021). His work in television includes “The Afterparty” (2022) and “Krapopolis” (2023–2025). Franco has continued to write and direct, with his film “Somebody I Used to Know” released in 2023, featuring his wife Alison Brie. His career reflects a sustained engagement with various aspects of film and television production.